Teaching Evolution and Behavior using Virtual Games

该项目旨在通过嵌入高度逼真、身临其境的计算机模拟中的互动活动，激发学生学习复杂科学概念的热情，从而服务于国家利益。该项目将专注于创建两个虚拟实验室(在两个不同的课程中)，一个展示进化生物学的关键概念，另一个展示动物生态学和行为。第一个实验室将把学生送回侏罗纪时代的一片森林，当时恐龙还在地球上漫步。学生将进行一系列有指导的活动，包括跟踪和镇静不同物种的恐龙，收集有关它们的解剖结构(例如，大小、皮肤类型、是否有羽毛)和遗传学(DNA和蛋白质序列)的数据。学生们将使用他们收集的数据来分析不同恐龙物种的进化关系，并对关键特征的进化做出推断，如羽毛和飞行。在第二个实验中，学生们将虚拟旅行到亚马逊雨林，沉浸在捕食者-猎物相互作用的生态中。他们将扮演潜在的猎物(有毒和无毒的青蛙)和捕食者(鸟类)，并将能够遵循不同的策略(例如，有毒和鲜艳的颜色，或无毒和伪装)，并了解他们的策略如何影响生存，考虑到其他人(例如，捕食者)正在追求的策略，在互动环境中。这个项目将使用先进的计算机模拟方法来创建虚拟环境和令人兴奋的但具有教育意义的故事情节，旨在使学生希望通过参与和学习进化生物学和动物生态学和行为的主题来实现学术目标。虚拟环境和互动活动将包括使用复杂和身临其境的计算机模拟并使用快速、强大的尖端软件实施的新颖互动显示。生物学教员将协助设计和测试虚拟实验室。将设计评估和评估战略，以评估创新的计算机模拟如何实现教育目标。评估将包括人口统计调查、活动前和活动后测试、游戏指标分析和深入调查问卷。NSF IUSE：EHR计划支持研究和开发项目，以提高所有学生的STEM教育的有效性。通过参与的学生学习路径，该计划支持有前景的实践和工具的创建、探索和实施。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project aims to serve the national interest by stimulating student enthusiasm for learning complex scientific concepts through interactive activities embedded in highly realistic, immersive computer simulations. The project will focus on the creation of two virtual labs (in two different courses), one presenting key concepts from evolutionary biology, and one demonstrating animal ecology and behavior. The first lab will transport students back to a forest in the Jurassic epoch, when dinosaurs still roamed the Earth. Students will undertake a guided series of activities, including tracking and tranquilizing different species of dinosaurs, collecting data on their anatomy (e.g. size, skin type, presence, or absence of feathers) and on their genetics (DNA and protein sequences). The students will use the data they have gathered to carry out analyses of the evolutionary relationships of the different dinosaur species, and to make inferences about the evolution of key characteristics, such as feathers and flight. In the second lab, students will travel virtually to the Amazon rainforest to be immersed in the ecology of predator-prey interactions. They will play both potential prey (toxic and non-toxic frogs) and predators (birds) and will be able to follow different strategies (e.g. be toxic and brightly colored, or be non-toxic and camouflaged), and learn how their strategy affects survival given the strategies that others (e.g. the predators) are pursuing, in an interactive context.This project will employ advanced computer simulation methods to create virtual environments and exciting yet educational storylines that are intended to make students want to attain academic goals by engaging with and learning about topics in evolutionary biology and animal ecology and behavior. The virtual environments and interactive activities will include novel interactive displays using sophisticated and immersive computer simulations and implemented with fast, powerful, cutting-edge software. Biology faculty members will aid in the design and testing of the virtual labs. Evaluation and assessment strategies will be designed to assess how innovative computer simulations can result in educational goals. Evaluation will include demographic surveys, pre- and post-activity tests, analyses of game play metrics, and in-depth questionnaires. The NSF IUSE: EHR Program supports research and development projects to improve the effectiveness of STEM education for all students. Through the Engaged Student Learning track, the program supports the creation, exploration, and implementation of promising practices and tools.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.